7/31/2015

Absolutely amazing, true farm to table. Summer salad was very good, if you want something light. Buttermilk fried Chicken sandwich was out of this world. Bartender was extremely nice, he said the pork chop for dinner is amazing and the peas and carrots app... Who would have guessed that.

Enjoy.

7/29/2015

I stopped by for lunch mid-week, mainly because the name of this place caught my eye.

Whatever you order, ORDER THE BEER-BATTERED CHEESE CURDS. They come with a small container of house-made ketchup and aioli. (Tip: mix the two together before you dip because it tastes sooooo good.) These are perfectly crispy and extraordinarily cheesy.

I had the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich for lunch. It came with a side of chips, but I wish I had the forethought to ask them to substitute these for a salad side like the guy next to me. I was surprised at how juicy and flavorful the chicken breast was. Definitely a solid choice, though it didn't blow me out of the water like the cheese curds did.

I love how local-focused this restaurant is. The flowers on each table are sourced from across the street, and all the beers on the menu are produced within a 200 mile radius. I didn't get a drink, but scanned the bar and noticed that they didn't have the usual generic bottles -- all local! Pretty great place to get a taste of Chicago far beyond deep dish and hot dogs. :)

• 

  Chicken sandwich

  Chicken sandwich
• 

  Cheese curds. Amazing!!!

  Cheese curds. Amazing!!!

7/17/2015

I came here at 11:45am on a Sunday, excited for lunch. But what? They only serve brunch? Until 3pm??? Wtf!

Anyway, I ended up getting a coffee (nothing special) and a Pasture Raised Burger with bleu cheese. The burger was not bad. But the fries and ketchup... they were pretty tasteless (prob because they were "healthy"). I was not a fan. I am rarely disappointed with fries!

Overall, just OK. Prob wouldn't go back again though.

6/24/2015

So first of all, if you are looking for a place in the city with good food and your reservations to other restaurants have fallen through, check this place out. I was able to get a reservation for 6 pm in the early afternoon on the same day. On a Saturday. Maybe this isn't typical, but worth a try. They have online reservations so you don't even have to talk to a human. ha. ha.

Anyway, we were running late. Our original reservation was for 5:30 pm. We arrived at 6 pm with no problem. There are booths, tables and seating at the bar for seating options. We had a table which was totally fine. Our waiter was prompt in coming over and helpful in suggestions of the menu. He was helpful without being too cheery.

We ordered the fried cheese curds. Ok. I know EVERYONE has them. I don't care. These are delicious. The three of us agreed that they were probably the best we have had.

We ordered a family size platter of mac and cheese and that was enough for the three of us. My husband had the largest serving. They had no problem splitting the veggie burger for my friend and I. They even delivered them on separate plates! So yes, the family size platter of mac and cheese is enough for 3. It would be excessive for one. The fries are also delicious FYI.

They had a good dark horse ale for just $5. Always good to find a good deal in the suburbs or in the city. Their mixed drinks are about $12 but potent.

The ambiance was really nice, service was prompt. There is paid parking right next to the place so don't freak out if you can't find any street parking. We would definitely come back if in the city again...and didn't want to try anything else.

• 

  Still Life in Woodpecker

  Still Life in Woodpecker
• 

  Dinner mints...in the bathroom.

  Dinner mints...in the bathroom.
• 

  "Built-in" booths.

  "Built-in" booths.
• See all photos from Caroline M. for Farmhouse

7/6/2015

When my friend picked Farmhouse for dinner all I could think was "CHEESE CURDS!"  I read about these many times in others' reviews, and even the girl on "Check, Please!" was convincing.  My opinion is the same; the cheese curds are heavenly.  Lightly, but perfectly fried, and served with two sauces.  I liked the horseradish sauce, but I did not like their homemade ketchup.  Some things are just better loaded with preservatives and sugar, and therefore are best left alone.

I ordered the "Jinx Removing," from the cocktail menu.  This gin and honey lavender syrup concoction is delicious, but I'd only recommend it if you like refreshing, but slightly floral, beverages.  My friend asked if it tasted like soap, and I insist, it does not.

I washed down my meal with the (get ready for this long beer name) Spiteful Breeding God Damn Chocolate Banana Porter.  It smelled like a coffee porter, but I could definitely taste the notes of chocolate and banana.  I always say I don't like dark beers, but I suppose I'm full of it, because this was amazing.

Following that beer (yes we ate too, but hold on a damn minute), I noticed all three of my friends were raving about their fruit beer.  OH. MY. GET THIS.

The cocktails and beer at Farmhouse are terrific!  But the food was only so-so.  Those cheese curds make a great bar snack, but the burger I ordered wasn't worth the price tag.  I ordered it "medium," but it was very well done and ended up being very dry.  They added lots of blue cheese though, which gave much needed flavor.

Our group shared the macaroni & cheese.  I would have much liked this as an entree instead.  It's big enough to share and wonderfully creamy.

Even though my entree was disappointing, I'm still giving Farmhouse 4 stars because of the great drink list and the cheese curds.  Two of my friends shared the skirt steak, which looked really good, so I'd just steer clear of the burger here.

Oh, and our server was awesome.  She's an aspiring actress that needed a new dream, so we carefully jotted down some ideas.  Astronaut?  Girl Scout Troop leader?  The list was endless.

8/5/2015

The restaurant has a very casual atmosphere but better food than that suggests. The saddle of rabbit and chicken soup were excellent. Service is very quick and friendly. The berry pie was tasty and not too sweet, but the crust was a bit too thick.

• 

  Farmhouse

  Farmhouse
• 

  Tasty!

  Tasty!

7/9/2015

SO DELICIOUS.

Made a reservation less than a week in advance for Sunday brunch and the process couldn't have been easier (it was through Open Table). I changed the res a few times as our party size changed and each time I was able to get another table. Plus, it wasn't crazy crowded even though we came at noon. Always a plus in my book!

On top of that, the food at Farmhouse is utterly delightful. Everything is locally sourced but the waitstaff isn't snooty about it - our waitress explained a few things to us, told us her favorites and then gave us some time to choose.

Definitely get the cheese curds for the table (or just yourself) because they're point-blank amazing. They lighten the batter similar to tempura batters, so the fried outside is thin and the curd just melts in your mouth. So, so good. I also had a bloody mary, which to my delight came topped with a skewer of an olive, a non-fried cheese curd, a piece of salami and a fresh pickle. YUM. I also got the farmer's breakfast which was delicious, even if it wasn't as fancy as their french toast or the chicken biscuit - a few of my brunch mates ordered those and they looked great too.

The food is delicious, the ambiance cool but not too cool. I'm sold, Farmhouse.

7/7/2015

5 stars for you Farmhouse!  

WHAT a treat. this is the coolest, most low key yet high caliber food & drink quality restaurant.. and for that I love it. I'm not really into stuffy restaurants and this is far from that. laid back & awesome.

they have an upstairs as well a patio so wherever you want to sit, you've got it.

so I had a salad.. because I was trying to be somewhat healthy. the salad I got had mixed greens, chicken, and pickled beets (can't really remember the name). I'm not really into pickled beets but if I were, they were really tasty! okay the chicken though.. EXCEPTIONAL flavoring = best chicken of my life. this is not an overstatement. and the dressing was baller as well.

I had their sangria which didn't really taste like sangria to me- I probably wouldn't get it again but it was not bad.. I just wanted a fruity sangria. also had a local beer- they have a wide offering of drinks- beers, wine, mixed drinks galore.

great service, fun vibe, stellar food.. it's all there folks.

8/13/2015

The cocktails were on point and the steak was delicious. The service left a little bit to be desired, but our waitress was very nice. I'll definitely be back.

8/11/2015

Came here just for drinks. Beer was good, our favorite was the bottle of Raspberry truffle from abduction. Eric was a great bartender!

6/3/2015

This is a fun and vibrant watering hole and restaurant for the neighborhood locals and workers from River North, so be ready for unabashedly loud bar crowd at happy hour.  

Very friendly and attentive bar service from exuberant and joyful barmaid; numerous good if not downright great draft craft beers, and a lively crowd. A colleague and I shared the fries and a cheese & meat board to nosh on while we knocked back a couple.  All good except the salami was exactly what I'd picture as "farmhouse" meaning a lot of unrendered fat, but that's my only minor gripe.  If I worked in this area every day I imagine I'd be here a couple times a week.

There is also an upstairs dining area but I haven't yet seen it. This is not a good date place (unless you're attracted to tight spaces and high decibel levels in a downbeat stylized farmhouse setting), but it is a great place to untie the tie and loosen the shoe buckles (or straps) with friends and/or colleagues. Looking forward to a return visit, and the only reason I'm giving 3 stars is that the food didn't wow me; will give it a try again and update this review.

8/11/2015

Get the Amish chicken. And the bread pudding.

7/25/2015

My friend and I popped in for some dessert and coffee after having some deep dish pizza! I wish we had the chance to try some of their food cuz everything looked and sounded yummy! We had the bread pudding with ice cream and cream sodas. I love the atmosphere and the interior decor (cozy and rustic).

• 

  Bread pudding and ice cream!

  Bread pudding and ice cream!

5/27/2015

Very tasty food, and it was there, right next to Steve's Place!

Had it a while ago with the following:
Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich - very tasty and tender
Hand-cut fries - also very tasty
Beer-bnattered WI Cheese Curds - addicting!

I think I ordered from here once before, but have no record - still all tasty. This place is a bit expensive but worth it, and will come here again.

Its a bit of a walk from 600 West Chicago Avenue, but worth the effort.

7/28/2015

Farmhouse was awesome for lunch. They were amazing with my kids, the Mac and Cheese was incredible, as were the cheese curds. Nice staff, great food.

• 

  Mac n cheese

  Mac n cheese

1/25/2015

3.5 stars, rounding up for service, ease of making reservations, and overall a pleasant dining experience. Oh, and cute half-circle booths on the second floor.

I recently came to celebrate a flurry of events. Mind you, it was 0 degrees outside that night and yet we still managed to trek out here to eat.

Appetizers: 2 words. CHEESE CURDS. I am salivating just thinking about these. It was my first time trying cheese curds as I'm not typically a big cheese person to begin with. I popped one in my mouth and out exploded a bite of heaven. So delicious, so flavorful, so freaking amazing. They're like little fried balls of string cheese that tastes infinitely better than my description. Hands down the best item of the night!

In comparison, the baked mac & cheese was underwhelming and I would not order it again.

Drink: I got the seasons soda which was strawberry that day. It was refreshing, light and did not taste artificial at all.

Main dish: Pasture raised burger which I added a fried egg, bacon, and muenster cheese. It was a good burger, don't get me wrong, but I think much of the credit goes to the fried egg and bacon which if topped onto any burger can make it seem much more tasty than it really is. The muenster cheese was also an unique add.

I also returned for brunch (ok I confess, I just wanted to eat the cheese curds again) which I thought was also about a 3.5. You can literally taste the freshness in the ingredients though - my potatoes tasted like they were just dug out from the ground that same morning. It was a very healthy, simple, and clean brunch as there's no excess of oil or salt anywhere. Still, it seemed like they were missing a little spark. The spicy potatoes though...that's good stuff.

• 

  Baked mac and cheese

  Baked mac and cheese
• 

  Pasture raised burger with fried egg & bacon

  Pasture raised burger with fried egg & bacon
• 

  Cheese curds :) :) :)

  Cheese curds :) :) :)
• See all photos from Evie H. for Farmhouse

8/9/2015

Saw this restaurant on Check, Please so I had to try it out.  The restaurant is known for its cheese curd appetizer.  I'm not a cheese lover, but it was really, really good.  Light, fluffy with great taste.  Hubby had the fish fry.  He liked it, but wish it had a little more flavor.  He loved the homemade ginger ale.

I had the pork chop.  My goodness.  It was tasty, delicious and very  seasoned.  And big enough for two.  The garnish was strange - popcorn.  No veggies.  Strange.

The service was great.  My only complaint is there wasn't enough veggies on the menu.  Where's the spinach or collards?  To serve a pork chop with no veggies makes no sense.  Especially for a restaurant named Farmhouse.

Regardless, I LOVED the food and will definitely come  back.

4/23/2015

I'd been to and reviewed Farmhouse in Evanston, but the one on Chicago Ave is different enough to warrant its own review.  

I made the reservation here to accommodate an out-of-town friend, so neither of us had been here before. I was running ten minutes late, and just as I parked I got a text from Farmhouse politely reminding me of the reservation and providing a phone number in case I need to contact them. I liked that touch - it wasn't pushy or rude, just a polite, "Hi, we're still here and we hope you can still join us" kind of thing.

This space is smaller than the one in Evanston, and decorated with the different demographic in mind, and it works very well. Our hostess was smiling and pleasant, as was our server.

My friend and I both ordered the same brunch item, which came with housemade pickles, ham, hardboiled egg, jam, relish, bacon, and good sized piece of coffee cake. I thought everything was delicious. I had a latte, which was fine, but the size of a cappuccino.

My friend and I stayed and talked for two hours, and no one rushed us. Honestly, I have no complaints, would recommend, and will return.

12/21/2014

Farmhouse...oh how you tease. I say this because my friends and I all felt the best part of our dining experience was the drinks, appetizers and side. The entrees and desserts were OK, but we expected more.

What we liked:
Drinks
- The Cider Sangria was a cool spin on the traditional sangria. If this is on their menu all year round I recommend trying it.

- Stacey Special (think it's called that) is a bourbon drink with ginger beer. I'm not usually a bourbon drinker, but drink was mixed perfectly as to where all the flavors blended so nicely the bourbon wasn't overpowering.

Appetizers
- I love pretty much anything with cheese so of course I recommend the cheese curds.

- I'm not usually a fan of brussel sprouts, but the Brussel Salad is delicious. I like how they shredded the brussel sprouts and mixed in the kale, cherries, cheese and bacon.

- My friend got the chicken soup and said it was the best she's ever had. I didn't try it and she's no chicken soup expert so try it if you want to prove her right or wrong.

Sides
- The Mac & Cheese was damn good! It's just cheesy goodness and it is delicious. Get it. Try it. Love it.

Entree(1 out of 4)
- The Grilled Pork was perfectly cooked, tender, juicy and definitely worth the $27 price tag so said my friend....the "chicken soup expert"

What could have stayed in the kitchen:
Entrees
- The Indiana Fish Fry was a negative for me. The breading on the fish could have been crispier. This dish (in my opinion) sounds better than it taste.

- The Rainbow Trout and Lamb T-Bone were just OK. My friends weren't overly expressed with these dishes.

Dessert
- We shared the Apple Pie and Cranberry Bread Pudding. Both desserts were good, but nothing original.

All and all I feel that Farmhouse is a place I'd go back to, in the distant future, for drinks and for more of the Mac & Cheese.

• 

  Rainbow Trout

  Rainbow Trout
• 

  Lamb T-Bone

  Lamb T-Bone
• 

  Mac & Cheese - amazing!!

  Mac & Cheese - amazing!!
• See all photos from Norm J. for Farmhouse

4/3/2015

Farmhouse you did not disappoint from the service to the food you came out on top.

Called ahead for a reservation based on a recommendation and glowing reviews. Turns out when I arrived there was no need but it is better to be safe than sorry. Starting with a strong, yet short, list of drafts my bartender made a recommendation which was delicious. Fried Cheese Curds, how could you go wrong. Followed buy their burgers, so good.

No complaints and a great back story make this a place I will surely revisit.

6/17/2015

Best thing we tried were the cocktails (cider sangria was quite light and herby, as was a gin drink I had) and crispy cheese curds. I wasn't a fan of the overwhelming char on the cheese plate bread and the Mac and cheese was nothing special. Fries were also under seasoned and not as crispy as I like. Our servers were great and very accommodating of our large group.

3/23/2015

Restaurants like Farmhouse are the reason I trust my fellow Yelpers. Seeing 4+ stars usually means it's going to be at least good (and more often than not, great). I'd put Farmhouse in the "excellent" category. Given the concept (local farm to table seasonal food, craft beers, etc.), this restaurant could easily come off as stuffy and pretentious but does the exact opposite. It's warm and inviting, cozy but not crowded, with decor that strikes the right balance between vintage and modern.

We started off with a couple of cocktails and an order of cheese curds. I had a Manhattan with a local bourbon (Few Bourbon) our server recommended, and it was excellent;  it's evident that the bartenders at Farmhouse know what they're doing. The cheese curds, on the other hand, were out of this world good - pretty much everything about them was top notch, especially the dipping sauce (aka crack). I'm not entirely sure what the dipping sauce was, but I know it had some paprika in it. We both ended up dipping French fries in it the rest of the meal until it was gone entirely. D*mn.

The entrees also impressed. I had the burger with bacon added, and it was a generous portion (always a question whether it will be enough at a nice place like this) and cooked to perfection (medium, juicy, flavorful). I ended up only eating half of it before being full (partially on account of the cheese curds, partially because the burger was massive). The gf had the Roasted Amish Chicken, which also came in a very generous portion and featured some of the most flavorful chicken either of us had ever had.

The only thing keeping this review from 5 stars was where they seated us. We had a reservation yet were seated at a table right below an air vent, which made for an intermittently uncomfortable experience (and resulted in the candle on our table being blown out). Eventually the air stopped blowing, but I'd think that Farmhouse could figure it out or not put a table in this specific area.

I'll look to stop back in the next time I'm in Chicago once some other seasonal items are on the menu. Farmhouse is a winner.

11/28/2014

You had me at cheese curds!

I really loved this concept, farm fresh, local food and drinks. I started with an old fashioned made with a local bourbon and luxardo cherries. It was divine. We split an order of cheese curds, which I could have eaten all on my own... Because they were amazing. Super salty, light crispy crust and a spicy dipping sauce.

For my main I ordered the gnudi in broth. It was tasty, but desperately needed more broth and a larger portion. It felt more like an appetizer. (And, I'm not a big eater or a big person so that says a lot!).

I wish I had ordered the Mac and cheese, it looked amazing and filling....maybe next time. Despite the slightly disappointing entree, I'll be back.

• 

  Vegetarian gnudi in broth

  Vegetarian gnudi in broth
• 

  Cheese curds!

  Cheese curds!

8/7/2015

Not gonna lie this place was delicious! It's my first time and I had the lamb chop which was amazing and some glazed carrots which gives you a nice sweet taste and a plus is they have great local beer list yall should heck it out just saying.

8/25/2014

Our experience here was a bit odd. I made a reservation for four of us ladies on a Sunday just before noon. As soon as we arrived, we were met with levels of unfriendliness and a lack of accommodation to which we are unaccustomed.

It began with uncomfortable seating. There were two mature women in my party, and we were offered seating that was uncomfortable for them...squeezed up beside the bar with barely enough room to sit up straight, and then, when we asked to move, squished onto a bench that lacked adequate space for a normal sized posterior. When we asked for a nicer space, we were met with rudeness from the hostess, who seemed surprised that we wouldn't just be grateful to have any old spot in the place.

Oh well, we could have gotten over that had our server not had a similar attitude. He was somewhat polite most of the time, but when my mom (who, I admit, is a bit more pushy than I myself would normally be) asked if our food would be out soon, he literally scoffed and said "we're busy."

Anyway, once our food was served, it was enjoyable. The cinnamon roll with blueberry, oozy goodness? Yum. The cheese curds? Mmm. I didn't think there was a whole lot of food included in the farmhouse meal for the price, but what was there, was tasty.

The restaurant had a cool vibe and enjoyable food. I wish the staff had come to work that day with better attitudes, but perhaps I'm just not used to farm fresh snobbery. The food didn't blow us away enough for me to even consider calling our visit "a-okay."

• 

  Farmhouse platter

  Farmhouse platter
• 

  Coffee cake

  Coffee cake
• 

  Cheese curds

  Cheese curds
• See all photos from Sam P. for Farmhouse

5/27/2015

Farm to table is becoming an irritating marketing bullshit phrase that often has nothing to do with reality or good food.  Not such the case here.  

I had lunch with a friend.  Their menu is small and extremely affordable.  I had the fried chicken sandwich.  Juicy meat, some damn good secret sauce.  The side salad was divine.  It tasted like the greens had been picked within the hour.  The dressing so light and perfect.  Homemade potato chips - yum.  

If I lived in Chicago, I would eat here regularly for lunch.  It was crowded around 12:30 but emptied out around 1:15 and was a great place to just sit and gab with a friend over wine and sandwiches.  Hats off to the Chef on this place.

10/22/2014

We simply could not have had a better experience here. Our reservation was honored immediately, we sat upstairs in a busy but not too close area, our food (including curds) was absolutely delicious, and the beer list proved to offer options that were just right to pair with our meal. In response to other reviewers who have commented on beer prices: we were impressed with the pricing for a nicer restaurant. They could have been set much higher and, again, care has been taken to offer flavors that are consistent with flavors in meals. Nothing too oddball and lots of variety.

I had the newer gnudi and it was a perfect portion and delightfully earthy with the onion broth and sun chokes. Delicious.

Though we didn't have room for dessert, I would happily return with a bigger appetite and enjoy more options. Very, very good.

• 

  Cheese curds

  Cheese curds
• 

  Gnudi

  Gnudi
• 

3/8/2015

I really want to like this place, but the two times I've been there, I've been underwhelmed by the food. The first time, I had the burger, which is one of their key items and it was't that great. I DO, however, recommend the cheese curds. They are by far the best thing on the menu and exceptionally delicious. Get two orders. You'll need it.

The second time I went, I got the pork hash. Again the meat was a little dry and I needed hot sauce to help add some moisture to the meal. Sadly, the hot sauce came out super fast saturating my meal, which was my fault. However, even still, not quite what I was hoping for.

Service is average if not on the slightly slower side, and the drinks are good.

Overall, I really appreciate their farm to table concept, and am a big fan of their messaging and mission. On the other hand, not the biggest fan of their food.

6/27/2015

Being a Northern CA foodie makes it hard to be impressed and yet this place exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds.  Simply divine elegance with the freshest ingredients available made for a memorable meal.

• 

  The view out the front window from the dining room.

  The view out the front window from the dining room.
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  Skirt steak with grilled fresh spring onions and greens with a side of beautiful beets.

  Skirt steak with grilled fresh spring onions and greens with a side of beautiful beets.
• 

  Peas and carrots with chèvre and fresh herbs.

  Peas and carrots with chèvre and fresh herbs.

5/20/2015

I came here with for a light lunch and wine (not one in the same...at least on that day!) and had a great experience. The server we had was very friendly and helpful at recommending a wine that we'd like. The food was quite tasty (salad & sandwich/soup, respectively), and the location (right off of the brown line) can't be beat. My only complaint is that at least where we were sitting, it felt a little tight...was just a little too close for comfort to our neighbors. But, it's not a total dealbreaker, just something I'll keep in mind going forward.

2/17/2015

I've been to Farmhouse now on a couple of occasions. I like that the menu items are seasonal, which usually means fresher food. Although the food here is good, nothing really stood out to me. On our last visit we had the Veggie burger. I liked that it sort of tasted like a hush puppie. Something was missing though. I wish the flavor was either more intense or spicy. The fries were okay, but I've definitely had better. Wish they were seasoned a little bit more. The restaurant itself is a casual atmosphere and there are two levels. Not my go to place, but still a viable option if you happen to be in the area.

• 

  Veggie Burger with Fries

  Veggie Burger with Fries

7/9/2015

The food was phenomenal, the drinks were fantastic, and the service was spot-on even when the place was packed. This is a great place for Brunch!!

8/26/2014

Overall, think it was kinda pricey for what I got (food/ambiance/decor)... but still a good meal nonetheless.

You MUST get the beer battered cheese curds. I don't know how they make it, but I've never had it like that anywhere else. It was the most perfect little creation that I wish I could find back where I live.

The waiter recommended the chicken .. which was pretty good. There was fried chicken and roasted chicken over some vegetable medley. However, I don't think it was worth the ~$27. Chicken was on the salty side, but its tenderness made up for it. My friends got the burgers, which they all thoroughly enjoyed (veggie and nonveggie). The burgers seemed more reasonably priced ~$13, so if I were to come here again, I'd get one of those.

• 

  waiter's highly recommended chicken .. so tender!!

  waiter's highly recommended chicken .. so tender!!
• 

  beer battered cheese curds - probably best thing on the menu

  beer battered cheese curds - probably best thing on the menu

5/24/2015

Delicious food, great service, awesome cocktails and craft beers. You won't go wrong trying this awesomely trendy and deliciously gourmet restaurant. Definitely try the cheese curds...MOUTH ORGASM!!! Enjoy and don't listen to the lower star reviews. I'm not sure what happened during their visit; ours was fantastic.

• 

  Bar area.

  Bar area.

3/30/2015

This place is great!! Love the decor and sitting at the bar. My husband and I first came here so we could try their beer. We ended up also getting  some fried cheese curds which were AMAZING. The second time we came was with another couple for dinner. Everyone's food was great and the service was okay. I am very particular about my burger - always medium rare. My burger came out so over well- done I had to send it back. I normally never do that because I feel bad but there was no way I could enjoy my dinner. I sent it back and by the time it came back correct, my friends were already finished with dinner. I definitely wouldn't recommend sending your food back during dinner rush hour.

We came back a third time for Brunch with 4 of out friends and had a great time. Sat upstairs and food came quick and was awesome. I got the Benedict and it was good, friends got the hash and flatbread and thought they were amazing. We also got bloody Mary's which came with beer backs - so tasty! Definitely a fun spot to try out.

• 

  Tasty!

  Tasty!
• 

  Yummmm!

  Yummmm!

6/25/2014

After hearing all the great things about Farmhouse, I decided this would be a good place to celebrate my sister's birthday.  I had made reservations for 7:30 pm for a party of 7 on a Friday night, but half of the party was running a little behind.  Farmhouse did not make a huge fuss and still accommodated us.

Farmhouse's menu is always rotating (besides their appetizers) because they only use the finest ingredients from local farms.  They make everything from their condiments to their sodas from scratch.  We started with a couple of appetizers:

Beer Battered Wisconsin Cheese Curds: cheese curds served with homemade catsup and spicy curd sauce.  The batter had the right amount of crunch to it, while the inside was still light and gooey.  I enjoyed pairing these curds with the spicy sauce for the extra kick.

Jerky & Nuts: cured beef with roasted almonds.  I would never thought of pairing jerky with nuts, but the combo actually works.  The cured beef offered great flavor and chewiness while the almonds gave off that crunch.  The only complaint is the jerky is a little tough, even by jerky standards.

Baked Cheddar Mac and Cheese: This is probably the worst mac and cheese I had in a while.  It lacked flavor and was really mushy.  Definitely pass on this.

For my entrée, I decided to go with the old world grains burger (vegetarian).  It was accompanied with fries.  The patty was created with mostly quinoa layered with mushrooms, poblano pepper, garlic mayo, tomatoes, and onions.  The complexity of the ingredients complemented the burger well.  On the other hand, the fries were just mediocre and the housemade ketchup was lacking flavor.  I was expecting a hearty ketchup, but got a watery sauce instead.  A bit of a letdown because I love my potatoes.

I enjoyed most of the food here, but didn't think it was mind blowing.  It is mostly due to the most basic things not meeting my standards: the mac and cheese and the condiments.  Overall, I wouldn't rush back here for another meal.  With the price tag on these entrees, I would take myself somewhere that offers more unique and tastier dishes.

• 

  Pork Schnitzel

  Pork Schnitzel
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  Fish and Chips

  Fish and Chips
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  Grilled Trout

  Grilled Trout
• See all photos from Lisa H. for Farmhouse

4/22/2015

This was my first stop during a recent trip to Chicago and man, was it a good decision. I sat at the bar with a friend and was entertained and delightfully served by Stacey. We shared some of the fried cheese curds to start (a must have!) and both ordered something from the extensive beer and wine list. Being an out-of-tower, I was excited by the many local craft beer options on tap! Both of our mains were delicious and we loved the trendy, but not over the top, interior. A great place to get away from the tourist fray.

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  Comfy, cozy, and trendy bar scene

  Comfy, cozy, and trendy bar scene
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  Drinks and cheese curds at the bar

  Drinks and cheese curds at the bar

8/10/2015

Very happy with my experience from making a reservation to service and food.  We came as a party of 10 and our server was helpful and graciously accommodated our request for separate checks.  We enjoyed the beer, app's, dinner and dessert.  You can tell when a restaurant cares about the food and the service and Farmhouse falls in that category.

4/10/2015

A great find! Amazing! The food is fantastic and the service even better. The cheese curds are crispy and fresh and delicious. They don't taste too greasy and they're super squeaky. Perfection! I didn't care for either of the sauces they came with, but they were perfect just as they were.
My husband got the burger, I know kinda boring,  but he said it was the best burger he's ever had. I just got the mac and cheese and it was incredible! Probably one of the best I've eaten. It was creamy and cheesy and the noodles were perfectly cooked. I really wanted dessert but there was just not more bit of room.
I also had glass of cider that was crafted specially for Farmhouse and it was the perfect drink to go with the mac and cheese.

7/23/2015

Seriously fantastic, I love their food! Simple and delicious, minimalist and let's the food speak for itself. Highly recommend!

5/18/2015

I went here for brunch the other day and I can't wait to try the dinner menu! They have cheese curds, instant luv right there. Everything from the decor , to the mimosas, and the food was on point. They didn't get the fifth star only bc our food took over 30mins plus for eggs etc... The table that was next to us ordered almost the same thing and their food came out a lot quicker and we were already an half hour in on our dinning, we knew something was up. But overall I left wanting to come back again.

7/18/2015

High hopes for this place and I wanted to like it and the food badly but.......

We went for brunch on a Saturday afternoon.

Seating was quick but we did have reservations. Loved the decor.

Service - we had a cheerful waitress but food took a long time to get to us.

Food - we ordered french toast and the burger.
The french toast was way too sugary. Want to make it at home? Spread a lot of strawberry jam on some white bread and there you go. Did I eat it all? Yes, why? The wait made me hungry.
The burger wasn't exceptional either. The ingredients seemed fresh but I'd suggest you walk up to the whole foods and try their sandwiches instead. Fries were so-so.

7/11/2015

Very good food besides the fact the waiter forgot part of my order, after he brought my food not once did he ask me how my order is so I can tell him that he forgot my meal. Once I brought it up to him he said "oh I'm sorry I'll check with my cook." Why would I want it anymore?

3/12/2014

Farmhouse was a perfect restaurant for a perfect day. It was chill, friendly, and delicious.

I was the only patron when I first arrived for my 11:00 AM reservation; however, the crowd perked up by the time we left over two hours later. The initial solitude gave me ample time to assess the solitary vibe of Farmhouse. It's rustic with a blatant locovore current; both of which are trending. I thought that it was nice, but my only concern is that it's peaking and may soon be out of style. Regardless of the staying power of trends, I think that the ambiance of Farmhouse lends itself for a casual drink or meal at the bar, a date, or visit with friends.

I started with a mead recommended by my server Lauren. I explained my lack of preference and familiarity with beer and she, in turn, suggested the "Kill All the Golfers" mead. She explained that it was effervescent, which is is a word that tugs at my heart stings. I HAD to get that mead and I loved it. It was crisp, faintly sweet, and had delicate carbonation. I later followed up with the Wisconsin Old Fashioned which was the most delightful interpretation that has crossed my pallet.

I ordered the Roasted Baby Beet Salad and followed it up with the Short Rib Pot Pie. My friend had the Chicken Breast Sandwich. We were both giddy from the experience.

My Roasted Baby Beet Salad was light, sweet, and hinted at the earthiness that accompanies beets. My friend tasted it and quickly asked about the dressing. That's the pickled walnut vinaigrette you're tasting, my friend! Yeah - I didn't know that you could pickle walnuts either, but isn't it delicious! My my!

I'm inclined to say that the salad took the spotlight over my Short Rib Pot Pie. The pie was savory, rich, and a lovely experience; however, my mood had me more inclined toward lighter foods today. I ate most of it but took the rest home for a later treat. Lauren assured me that it's one of their menu items that keeps well.

My friend's Chicken Breast Sandwich was served with a side of mashed potatoes. I'm unsure if the mashed potatoes was Farmhouse's modification of fries (as listed on the menu) or if it was the unmentioned substitute. Either way, my friend made no comment on them. What we both loved was her sandwich. It was served open faced and was INCREDIBLE. I'm shaking my head while writing this because I am unable to conjure words to describe how delicious it was.

We had *such* a positive experience at Farmhouse that we laid it all on the line. Well, at least my friend did. She asked to meet the manager. I've met many chefs and restaurant managers but usually only because they're making obligatory rounds. This was so terrific that we specifically sought out this one and invited him to chat with us for a few minutes. It was that terrific!

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  Chicken Breast Sandwich $13.

  Chicken Breast Sandwich $13.
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  Short Rib Pot Pie $14

  Short Rib Pot Pie $14
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  Roasted Baby Beet Salad $9.

  Roasted Baby Beet Salad $9.
• See all photos from Yvonne B. for Farmhouse

5/19/2015

Two words: Cheese Curds.

Love this place. Have been a regular here many times as I used to work right next to it. Beer and wine is good, food is solid, but the cheese curds will make you drool. If anything, it can be a bit pricey, but worth the money. Great for a start to your evening!

5/1/2015

This place was great! We had a reservation (early, at 5:30 so we could catch a Second City show at 8:00) and were seated upstairs right away. Our server was great and made some really good suggestions.
They have their own hard cider so we tried both of them. They were okay but we weren't in love with either of them.
Per our servers suggestion I had the Primavera- it was totally unique and delicious! It's an app but that and a side of their house made potato chips was the perfect size meal.
Hubby had a grass fed burger that he said was really very solid - and the French fries were amazing.
Definitely enjoyed this place and its prime location across from the Chicago-Brown L station! Check it out, you won't be disappointed in their locally sourced, organic, farm-to-table food!

3/5/2014

Farmhouse absolutely masters. In my mouth is a long, thick, juicy piece of hot meat that is slightly sweet, golden and delicious. Juices every whar.

Listen.  Yes, their tartar sauce is blindingly white, slightly-whipped and delicious but WHATEVER that brown sugar, cherry vinegar concoction they put before you? Mouthgasmic. Might want to skip the tartar all together because it's truly unique and out of this world tart, tangy sweetness.

It's another snowy, dark, cold Chiberian day and discomfort be damned, I was determined to get it on with an exceptional plate of fish and chips... at least that was the goal.

After quickly scanning through my iPhone Yelp app for nearby white fish lunch options, decided to jump a quick brown line train over to Chicago to check this place out, since it seems to be packed for dinner service.

It was about 11:30am and I was perhaps the only customer on this nasty, slushy day and that did not bother me because the nice bartender gave me great service and there was even a cute busboy darting back and forth behind me to make sure I was happy.

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  Tasty fish and chips. My new favorite since Fado switched to that greasy, McBlock patty.

  Tasty fish and chips. My new favorite since Fado switched to that greasy, McBlock patty.

9/2/2014

We recently had a great brunch here while visiting Chicago.  We sat upstairs and were one of the only tables there.  Our server was a hipster, but I could look past that based on his GREAT table side manner.

We started with the fried cheese curds.  Yes, this is an odd choice for brunch, but I'm from Boston where we don't see a lot of cheese curds.  They were freaking amazing but you can't really go wrong with fried cheese.  

I got the veggie eggs with a side of toast and potatoes for my main course.  Everything was tasty, BUT the eggs were waaaaay too salty.  It annoys me when restaurants do this since it's so easy not to.  That was my one downside to the entire meal, though.  Also, the french press coffee is ridiculously good.

Recommend!

4/17/2015

I'm honestly a bit confused by the great reviews, because the high reviews were the reason we decided to try Farmhouse for dinner on a Friday night.

Obviously a cool concept, and the restaurant itself has great ambiance. Service was also good. What was really disappointing was the food, which is kind of baffling.

We started with the cheese curds which are apparently rave-worthy. The cheese was tasty, but they were so incredibly greasy that they were soggy, and the battered exterior actually melted and fell apart off of the cheese. Odd.

I also ordered a cheeseburger and fries. The cheeseburger was very average, fries were bland but crispy, but I absolutely cannot believe how terrible the ketchup was here! If you can imagine unsalted, cold tomato soup (that tastes like the inside of the tin can), that is the ketchup at Farmhouse. It was really strange because it made me unable to eat the fries, because it would mean dipping hot fries into runny, bland, soupy ketchup. Seriously. What the hell.

I will not be returning.

9/1/2014

I loved the decor and the theory behind the farm table concept. The brunch menu had pretty much anything you craved and it was fresh/ organic / local.

I had the farmers breakfast and biscuits on the side which was pretty filling. I will say that our entire table added salt, ketchup and hot sauce to everything. I thought the food presentation could have been a little better.

Aside from that, I would definitely go back with a group and maybe try their quiche or another dish.

6/23/2015

I got the fried chicken sandwich and my wife got the fish and chips. It wasn't a huge slab of chicken as you might think, but it was definitely one of the best ones I've had. The bun was amazing. Everything was fresh and delicious. Definitely would recommend.

8/20/2014

We made a reservation for two and so were quickly seated at a table. It was pretty packed so I understand why he service was a little slow. This place is known for their crafted menu, where all the drinks and food items are from Midwest breweries or farms. This place brought out some of my Midwestern pride because that beer menu looked fantastic. I tried a locally brewed American pale ale- Daisy Cutter- and really enjoyed it. We also started off with the beer battered Wisconsin cheese curds-- delicious, ygooey cheese that can be dipped in a ketchup or spicy sauce. They were out of the marketplace flatbread, so I'll have to come back for that! This place has many healthy dishes, but there seems to be only a few options to choose from for an entree.

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  Beer battered cheese curds with spicy ketchup. YUM

  Beer battered cheese curds with spicy ketchup. YUM

7/24/2014

This place really underwhelmed. The farm to plate theme is something I've experienced in cities all over and this one really failed at execution

The beer list -  pretty much a sampling of the same beer types over and over from different quasi craft breweries.

The menu - sounded good although I opted for a burger. The thickest, most over cooked lean local beef I've ever experienced. Quite possibly the most tasteless thing I've ever eaten. The toppings add up quick and I found myself eating a very marginal $20 burger.

The staff - needs some serious attention training. At my first bite I knew I was going to be unsatisfied, however, I didn't get a follow visit from our sever until I caved to my hunger and muscled through the awful dish. Possibly by design?  Who knows...spend your hard earned cash elsewhere!

8/6/2014

Service wasn't great.  They sat us upstairs and then forgot about us.  It was 15 minutes before they even took drink orders.  However, we had some folks show up late, and they happily accommodated them even after we had already ordered.

Food was good.  Wisconsin cheese curds are amazing, but a little too greasy.  My friends got burgers and they looked amazing.  I tried some of the veggie burger and it was surprisingly great - almost better than the regular burger....almost.

8/4/2014

What an amazing concept! Farm to table, locally sourced, antibiotic free, hormone free food. While the ingredients were fresh, the cooked product was underwhelming.
Upon reading some yelp reviews, I ordered the Amish Chicken. The salad that came with it was so delicious. Too bad the chicken was dry and tasted like recycled paper in my mouth. The dark meat was slightly more edible. I had two bites of the chicken breast and it was dry and chewy.

Beer selection was great and they have home made sodas. The service was spotty. I checked Open Table there were plenty of reservations available, but it was raining so heavily I didn't want to commit to a specific time and I assumed since they had plenty of rsvp available it would be fine. We walked in w/o reservation and the hostess was hesitant when we told her we had no reservations and told us we could sit at the bar or at the window table if we could so kindly leave in an hour and a half.

Very loud music.
Great concept of a restaurant but quality leaves much to be desired.

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  Amish Chicken. Dry.

  Amish Chicken. Dry.

6/8/2015

Had the veggie burger and cheese curds, yum!  Humdinger was AMAZING.  Would go back just to drink the cocktails.

1/20/2015

Farmhouse has been on my list to try for several years and I'm happy I finally made it in.

I went for brunch and was looking forward to some eggy goodness.  I ordered the quiche with a side of sausage.  

On the side was a generous salad dressed with the one of the best vinaigrettes I've tasted.  It had razor thin slices of sweet onion and radish, which added the perfect bite.

The quiche was a deep wedge of dense egg custard nestled in a perfectly crisp, buttery, and golden crust.

Sausage was just spicy enough and worked well between forkfuls of that tangy salad.

The server was quite congenial and answered my companions' many questions with ease and delight.

Must go back for dinner!

7/24/2014

This place has so much potential...yet did not live up to the hype from other reviewers.

Decor was awesome. Cool vibe. Huge beer list. So much potential...

Husband and I both got burgers ($13) dressed differently ($1 for each extras and $2 extra for an egg). Burger was ordered medium...came out slightly pink but tasted over done...dry and blah. Bun was dry and flakey. Possibly the worst burger I've ever had (and I had a burger for lunch that was awesome-Epic Burger) No sauce. The fries were ok and they make their own ketchup which I wasn't crazy about either.

Service was just ok. Nothing to write home about. Took over 10 minutes for our server to come and bring waters (which usually would not sit well withe). Other than that she was attentive.

Maybe other menu items are better...I wouldn't go back to find out. Only giving two stars because it looks cool and the fish platter the guy next to me had looked 20x better.

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  Burgers look awesome...tasted horrible...

  Burgers look awesome...tasted horrible...

7/23/2015

Moving a a snail pace. Got here 2 hour s ago. Managed to get 2 drinks and greasy cheese curds split by 4.  Service and  food is bad.

6/20/2015

Previously one of my favorite spots in the city is now probably the most awkward. We came one of their opening weekends years ago, chatted with the owner and were so delighted to have the spot in the neighborhood. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Came here pretty early for dinner on a Saturday. Restaurant almost essentially empty yet they say my husband and I in the most uncomfortable booth of all time. Upstairs. By ourselves nobody else on the floor. We asked to move to a more comfortable seat and we got a lot of huff and puffs even though we were the ONLY patrons upstairs. It was super awkward to be sat on our own floor like we were the ugly folks they wanted to hide. 10 minutes later they sat anther party upstairs. Right next to us. So uncomfortable seeing as the tables were inches from one another.

Fast forward to the end of our meal - food still yummy as ever - and we say we want all three plates to go. The waiter stacks each plate on top of one another then dumps all three meals into one box. Gross! You dot put the bottom of a plate where waiters and food runners hands have been on top of the food I wanted to later eat. That's just like restaurant cleanliness 101. Yarf.

Probably won't come back. Too bad too.

1/11/2015

Smallish eatery focused on local (Midwest) fare. In that, they source almost all of their ingredients and offerings from either Illinois, Ohio, Indiana or Michigan. This includes a huge variety of micro-brews and hard ciders. I grew up with these things, so it made a lot of sense to me. They had Lake Perch which I must order whenever I find it on the menu. My meal was very good and the vinegar / mustard seed reduction was outrageously delicious.

The service was pretty cool too. Paced, informative and helpful. I thought Farmhouse was very good and I intend to go back.

9/29/2014

Had brunch here yesterday morning with a few friends before the game.

I had the Eggs Benedict that came with a side of spicey potatoes. One of the poached eggs was a little over cooked but everything was still delicious. Staff was friendly and attentive throughout our visit.

If I'm ever in the area again, I'd definitely check it out again.

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  Eggs Benedict w/ potatoes

  Eggs Benedict w/ potatoes

1/13/2014

I'm pretty into this place. My friend lives pretty nearby so I don't really know about the parking situation. The space itself is urban/cozy/country. If that's even a thing. I'm pretty sure it is a thing because that's what Farmhouse is.

Things I discovered while there:
1: They have awesome homemade chips that come with a dill sauce. It's yum.
2: Their beer menu is organized by state and lists the distance the beer had to travel in order to get to the restaurant.
3: The burgers are amazing. My two friends got the veggie burger and I got the regular burger (you know... representing the omnivores out there).
4: You can get mac and cheese on the side instead of fries & that was basically the best decision I made all day. It was delicious and pillowy-- like a cloud of pasta and cheese.

The staff was also freakishly knowledgeable. Out waiter knew everything about all the ciders which was impressive. I'm not much for ciders myself, but one of my friends did order a cider with hibiscus and peppercorn notes. High reviews overall. I'll definitely be going back at some point.